Have you ever wished to wipe the slate clean and start over? We all have had times when we wished this to happen. In LifeWay's Explore The Bible Study: Factory Reconditioned (My title for the session "Family?"), we observe a man, Jacob, who was known for deception, get a taste of his own medicine. God was showing Jacob what deception felt like because God was not finished with Jacob. He had a plan and he continued to "recondition" Jacob's heart so that he could experience all God had promised.

The main scripture passage is Genesis 29:16-30. The downloadable teaching helps focus on helping you and your group understand that, while Jacob was very flawed, God still had a plan. Yet, with his imperfections came consequences that weren't very pleasant. He was given a dose of his own deception by his now father-in-law, Laban.

Consider all the problems Jacob experienced. Jacob had a problem with lying. His first wife, Leah, struggled with feeling unloved because Jacob really only wanted to marry her sister, Rachel. Then Rachel struggled with anger over infertility. They all had flaws, weaknesses, and imperfections. Yet God continued to “recondition” their hearts and used them to bring about His purposes and fulfill His promises.

Video Options: The following is a suggested option for guiding the Bible study:

Even today, we see how God works through imperfect people. This does not give us an excuse as believers to live as we wish; for the Scriptures tell us to: “not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.  And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.” - Romans 6:12-13 (CSB)

Perhaps you feel as if you can’t be used by God because you are imperfect. Allow God to “recondition” you into a vessel that is still useful. He not only reconditions but remakes you. It is a process, but God has a plan that includes you, and He desires for you to join Him in this plan.